New cabinet to be sworn in next week

The new cabinet will probably be sworn in next week, either on Monday, Thursday or Friday, prime minister Mark Rutte confirmed on Monday evening.


Rutte will take part in a business trip to Turkey next week and the new team of ministers – 12 full ministers and seven junior ministers – can be sworn in either before or after he goes.
Once ministers are sworn in, they traditionally appear on the steps of queen Beatrix’s Noordeinde palace for a photograph with the monarch.
Parliament will debate the coalition agreement, presented by Rutte and Labour leader Diederik Samsom, on Tuesday or Wednesday. After that, Rutte will be formally chosen as ‘formateur’ – the person who puts the coalition together – and can start formal interviews with potential ministers.
In reality, the names of the 20-strong team have been circulating widely in the press but have not yet been officially confirmed.
The cabinet (unconfirmed)

  • Prime minister: Mark Rutte (VVD)
  • Deputy prime minister and social affairs: Lodewijk Asscher (PvdA)
  • Finance: Jeroen Dijsselbloem (PvdA)
  • Justice: Ivo Opstelten (VVD, unchanged)
  • Health: Edith Schippers (VVD, unchanged)
  • Infrastructure: Melanie Schultz (VVD, unchanged)
  • Education: Jet Bussemaker (PvdA)
  • Home affairs: Ronald Plasterk (PvdA)
  • Foreign affairs: Frans Timmermans (PvdA)
  • Foreign trade and development aid: Lilianne Ploumen (PvdA)
  • Economic affairs: Henk Kamp (VVD)
  • Defence: Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (VVD)
  • Housing and government services: Stef Blok (VVD)
    Junior ministers (unconfirmed):

  • Health: Martin van Rijn (PvdA)
  • Infrastructure and environment: Wilma Mansveld (PvdA)
  • Economic affairs and agriculture: Co Verdaas (PvdA)
  • Social affairs: Jetta Klijnsma (PvdA)
  • Education: Sander Dekker (VVD)
  • Justice: Fred Teeven (VVD, unchanged)
  • Finance: Frans Weekers (VVD, unchanged)

    A good ministerial line-up? Have your say using the comment box below.

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